A 12,900-year-old cave in Türkiye reveals a forgotten world of hunter-gatherers and ancient fires

Representative Image (AI-generated) In 2019, researchers identified Koskarlı Cave near Trabzon, in Türkiye’s eastern Black Sea region. According to a study published in the journal Antiquity, later excavations at the cave revealed a 12,900-year-old hunter-gatherer layer containing a hearth, stone tools and personal ornaments. The findings provide rare archaeological evidence of human activity in the region during the Epipalaeolithic period, offering researchers a glimpse into the lives and activities of communities that lived there thousands of years ago.The discovery is significant because the cave provides the first systematic archaeological evidence of an Epipalaeolithic occupation in this part of the eastern Black Sea region. The excavated layer contains traces of a fireplace, stone tools and personal ornaments, giving researchers a rare glimpse into how prehistoric people lived in a region that has received comparatively little archaeological attention for this period.Cave identified in 2019Koskarlı Cave is located in the Söğütlü Valley, about 40 kilometres south of Trabzon and at an elevation of approximately 1,030 metres above sea level. The cave sits close to the Söğütlü Cr...